Four: In The Blood
January 8th, 2039
"Aunt, stop worrying. She could still be alive, you know how she is." The teenage redhead boy, with an attire of a green shirt and brown shorts, waited for his aunt Lily, who herself bore a lavender shirt and blue sweatpants. Lucky had just filled up his nice 2013 black Camaro.
"Lucky, its been a couple of months now. She should've been back already. Something's wrong, I know it." She hung up the phone, as it only led to voicemail the fifth time in a row. "Linka, where the hell are you?"
"She could be back home. You know, your old home?"
"Luck, it's a curse to us all. We've all suffered enough..."
"You guys suffered. Uncle Lincoln killed my dad, and mom's gone. But I'm clearly not suffering, am I?"
She had no reply to this snarky remark. "Look, fine. We'll check it out over there, she could be there."
"You know Linka all too well, she's always biting off more than she could chew against the PF."
"Speaking of, might wanna reach his place in time. Speed it up or we'll be locked out for the night. I'm not sleeping in this car again. We'll leave to Royal Woods in the morning, we'll pack."
"Fast and furious, coming up." The car accelerated to 70 mph, and he smiled eerily at the driving.
"You're insane, you know?"
"I'm the Lori and Chandler offspring. This shouldn't be surprising, aunt."
"I never met your father, but Lori... She saved Linka, because Linka saved her. She's not hard, and you aren't either."
"Enough with the mush..."
They were only about twenty miles away from Manhattan. She drowned herself in her music, seeing the blimps spread out all over the sky. The highways were empty, save for them, and they would pass by wrecked, dusty and burnt cars all around. Once, a destroyed tankwas flipped on the other side ot the highway.
"Do they usually have this much aircraft above?"
She took off one headphone. "No, it must mean there's a Phenomenon rebel in the area. Great, that's just what we need."
They reached the city, stopping at a checkpoint, one of many set up around all over. Men dressed in black, bearing yellow patches on the right part of their arm, aimed their Scars onto them.
"Be cool, we've done this before", Lucky whispered.
"Open your window!" One of the guards, a female, tapped the end of his gun on the car window. Lucky lowered it down. "Identification?"
"I'm Rusty... Spokes. And this is my... Girlfriend, Bella."
"State your reason to enter this zone."
"We're residents here."
"Open the trunk, please."
Lily remained quiet, tense and worried that they'd be discovered as Louds- And killed. She held her breath, and squeezed tightly on both knees.
The guard took a look around the trunk. Nothing but beer bottles, empty or not, was the only merchandise Lucky carried. "Am I done here, ma'am?"
The guard grabbed two beers and smiled. "You're clear, 'Rusty'. Be thankful it was me who was here, and not the others."
He laughed, giving off a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Paige."
"So, 'Rusty Spokes'?"
"Not the best alias, but you know."
"Ha, alright. I'll let you guys in. Nice seeing you again, Lucky."
The metal gates, over ten feet long, rolled open. A white flag was waved, motioned the vehicle to pull forward. "Did you really call me your girlfriend?"
"You don't look like an aunt to me, you're still young."
"Could've said sister, Lucky."
"Too late now."
Later
They beat the 10 P.M. curfew, a new rule made into effect by the Prime Federation. The blimps were now further from Lily's view, but still in range.
"Come on, aunt Lily. We need to start packing. It'll be a long drive."
She returned back to earth, looking down on her necklace given to her by someone long gone now. "Right," she said, returning to the safehouse that was once Lincoln's own. It seemed quiter after Linka's sudden disappearance.
"What- Hey, you can't leave us here. Where-" Lily was unable to reach Linka, only being disregarded while Linka was loading for bear. "LINKA!"
"What do you want?" Two duffel bags were set and ready for her. All she had to do was head out the door. "I have to go, Lily."
"What- No, you don't have to go alone. Lynn and Luan, we can ask for their help! Linka, please-"
"Don't use sentimentality on me! Its too late for words. Lisa and Vince have do die, and the Federation's power must tumble down. No one else will do this! The damn rebels have been unsuccessful. Only we know where she's barking orders from. That's where I'm going now!"
She pushed past Lily. Lucky was sitting on the table, only looking on. "You're not gonna help?!"
"She needs to try. This world isn't one we want. If anything, Linka can change that. She knows because she's him. She's Lincoln. As much as I hate you, Linka, you have a better shot than Lynn."
Linka opened the door, marking her cue to leave.
"What if they kill you? What if you die before you dismantle it?"
Linka halted her paces. "Then, I guess it's my time. But I'm gonna try."
"You don't think they killed her?"
"No. Like I said, old home. Probably there to hide, and not lead them to us. It's a smart move." He packed up most of his things in a big brown backpack. Lily gathered the food essential for this road trip. She was about to see Lynn and Luan again, which midly worried her.
"Haven't seen them in ages. I wonder how they are."
1216 Franklin Ave, Royal Woods
Luan was asleep on the couch. It had been a long day for her. The wheelchair was in the middle of the room. Lynn, in her red suit with white stripes, was on her knees, in a depressed mode, watching over the legless Luan. Nowadays, there wasn't much to do, but avoid the blimps, the forces, and from the Federation-Rebel war that had begun three years back.
She wanted no part of it, already losing everyone there was to Lisa and her newly founded Prime Federation. The Black Network was destroyed, and Lisa was behind bars. But who could have known Vince was still alive, and worked hard to recreate the hellish dream?
She was freed, and the Federation, a bigger organization than the Black Network had never ascended to, struck across the nation, and all was lost. But not everyone saw this as a bad thing all the way around. That's the foe even the Louds could not take upon- They died, and the remaining retreated, withdrawing from it completely.
That was back in 2028. Linka cut away, believing they had to keep fighting Lisa. Lucky followed after her, and Lily, who cared for Lucky, decided to go with the two, which wasn't by choice.
Lynn ran for two seconds, fetching the sleeping woman a blanket. The night felt late already. A dead world, this was. Something from a zombie apocalypse movie.
January 9th, 2039
"Wake up, sleepyhead! We have visitors!"
Lynn wiped the drool away, and leaned back up. "Ughhh?" She had fallen asleep on the wall again, which wasn't doing anything good for her. "What's going on? How long have I been out?"
"Look outside, we've got visitors!"
Lily and Lucky had already arrived. He was smoking already, which annoyed Lily. "Do you really have to do that now?"
"It helps me, okay? Can you not?"
"Fucking teenagers..."
Lynn zoomed around them, and stopped right in front of Lily. "Well, well, well, if it isn't team Lincoln?"
"Lynn, its not like that- Couldn't leave him by himself."
"He can take care of himself. And Linka's a big girl now. On the otherhand, Luan always needs the help, Lily. Go away, we don't need you."
"We just want to know where Linka is! She's gone missing, and well, I'm worried Lisa got to her or something."
Luan rolled her way to the door. "Lily! Lucky! Its good to see you again! Wait, where's Linka?"
"Oh, my god, Luan! Your legs! What-" Lynn quickly sealed her lips shut, holding a finger to her own. "Oh... Not her..."
"I had to rescue her days ago. They're toying with us, telling us to not attack. We can't live like this anymore. I worry for Luan."
"What's all the whispering? Come on inside, its cold out there!"
"Don't mention it to her. She's not been herself lately."
"So, what brings you by?" Luan shook hands with the two, happy as she was able to be. "I've missed you guys!"
"Its really great to see you both as well, Luan. Look, Linka went missing awhile back, and, I don't know, I figured she'd come here or pop up at least. I think I'm wrong now." She frowned upon the realization of another dead end.
"I'm sorry, she didn't stop here. No one has, actually." Luan looked around. "It's so lonely here... So... Lonely." She stopped, and looked as if she died. Drool formed from the corner of her lip.
"Luan?"
"She gets like that. Her mind goes somewhere else. If I didn't know any better, I'd say she's revisiting memories."
"Poor Luan..." Lily went on her knees in front of the mindless Luan, looking into her eyes. "I... I shouldn't have left." She put a hand on her face, crying. "Why did this happen?"
"You guys should leave. Linka isn't here. Nothing is here for you. I'll run you both back."
"Ha, fuck that. I brought my ride here, I'm not leaving it." Lucky crossed his arms, going in defensive mode.
"Door's there. You know the drill." Lily turned away from Luan, unable to look at what had become of her now. Lucky had tossed his cigar after putting it out.
"See you around, Lynn." Lucky closed the door behind them. Luan then looked up. "So... Lily?"
"You lost yourself. She's gone."
"What, when- How long was I..." Luan sighed. "I really hate this. Why can't you kill me?"
"Luan, we can fight this. You can fight this. We've survived worse, and we'll continue to live."
"Why? Why did we have to lie?"
Lynn looked away from her. "They can't know where she is. If I told them, they'd find her. Lucky isn't cut out for that, and I know Lily isn't at all. They're better off without Linka."
"Why didn't you invite them to stay with us?"
"No, Luan. That's not the best idea. Lisa knows where we are, we'd only be putting them in danger."
"Maybe..."
Washington, D.C.
It was on the far end of the cell hall. She was there, with only a shotgun to keep her company. All but one of the shotgun shells had been used to try and break out. When that failed, she used the butt of the gun to hopefully get the glass to break.
The time was lost, and Linka was craving vengeance on Lynn, who had put her there.
"You're going to ruin it for the rest of us. Its best you stay here. I'll come three times a week for food and water. I'll allow you to keep that damn gun of yours."
Linka tried to attack Lynn, but fell forward instead. "Why won't you help me kill them all?! We have a shot at winning! You're Lynn Loud, you love to win!"
"This time, there's more at stake. I can't allow you to fuck how Luan and I live. You'll be here until you agree to go back to his place. I'm lucky you came to us for help."
"YOU FUCKING TRAITOR!" Linka punched at the glass, unable to get through to Lynn.
Linka flew into a blind rage, banging and kicking away at the bulletproof glass while screaming as high and loud as her voice was able to.
Three: Fast in the Life Lane
She helped carry Lana, while the others were still in shock by what had just occurred. Lynn was silent while holding her end of the comatose girl. "What the hell are you all doing?! Make a bed, quickly!"
Liby and Lupa moved the kitchen table right to the living room. "Put her here."
Luna never left her corner, horrified at another attack carried out by Ventura.
"Luna? Luna, what do we do?! Tell us!"
The voices around her were muffled, put on mute. Lana was rendered to a vegetable, and no one saw it coming. How was this possible? How was he still alive? Lynn pulled her up to her feet, shaking her.
"Whu-What?"
"Its your call!"
Lily held onto the motionless Lana's hand. "What's wrong with her? Why's she like this?"
"We can't lose them both. Lynn?" The others caught on, thinking Lynn could be the savior to wake her up.
"I don't know what to do!"
"Give her a shock! Swipe your feet on the carpet, make electricity!"
She only took five seconds, and readied a hand over Lana's chest. "I don't know about-"
"SAVE HER!" Luan screamed. Lynn set her hand down, and hoped for the best. What came next was more tragic than this. Lana's complete chest blew open, blood and chunks mostly layered like polkadots on Lynn.
Lily ran from the room, screaming wildly. Linka was stuttering, blinking with no pattern.
At this point, Lynn was crying. "No, no, no, I didn't know... I didn't know! LANA!"
Lily's visions then ceased permanently since that day. Maybe it meant there was no danger for them both. Or maybe they weren't going to be with her forever. Either way, she kinda missed them, for they kept the darkness nearly out, driving them away. She was alone in her thoughts, memories, suffering of everything.
"What's on your mind, aunt?"
"Its nothing. I just had a memory of someone..."
"Aw, you gotta stop living in the past. Whoever died, is long since dead. We're alive, and we'll keep it that way. I think we should go back."
"Go back?"
"I don't wanna say she's dead, but she could be actually dead."
Lily had other ideas. "We don't know anything. She might have been captured or something, that's all."
"Then what do you suggest we do?" Lucky lowered the music playing from the CD, for all radio stations were shut down during the fall.
"I... I don't know, actually."
"I have faith in her, she can get out of anything. Don't you believe in her? She knows what must be done, unlike Lynn now."
"You said it yourself. She bites off more than she can chew."
"But, well yeah, doesn't mean she'll choke on it. She's always been through all of it." The two were distracted by a purple zooming light that flashed past them. The car shook, and Lucky muttered under his breath.
"Wait, was that who I think it was?" She looked into the mirror, and the purple flashing light was still there in view, getting closer. Lily blinked, and jumped at the sight of a girl outside the window.
"Yeah, it's her. It's that Lyra chick."
Elsewhere
"How is our guest?" Lisa, escorted by two guards, met up with Vince at the surgery room. A blue tarp was covering an unseen body, and Vince was keeping it company, staring at himself with a bowie knife.
"She's still reeling from the serum. Told you it could've been different for her."
"She won't die from this, I know so."
"What's your plan? Scare them again? Can't we just-"
"No, your orders are clear. You keep putting down the rebels. The Louds may not be threats, but I'm going to dispatch her, not you. I need you in the front lines instead."
He held the knife by its sharp end, preparing to throw it. The two guards beside her took aim at him. "Cease this folly, and return to your post!"
He slowly lowered the knife, and tucked it away. "Whatever, dude." He pushed past her, striking her shoulder intentionally.
Lisa exhaled nervously, trying to lower her heartbeat. She went over to the covered body, and removed the tarp. Lupa was asleep, and the Medi-Sin was still kicking in. Her face was getting dark, like a decomposing state. The veins became visible, and at any second, she'd be turned. Lisa placed a blue device that drilled into her head. Its light flashed brightly, and Lisa placed the headpiece that linked to it on her ear.
"Testing. Can you hear me? Move a muscle."
Lupa moved her fingers, responding to Lisa's command.
"Perfect."
Two: Sins of the Father
Lyra had Luna's teenage clothes on, and looked too similar to her, save for lighter brown hair than that of Luna's. "What a coincidence! Lily, Lucky, where are you both off to in such a rush?"
"We're looking for Linka, she's gone missing. Maybe you can help us!"
"No", growled the driver.
"Help find her? Geez, that's a challenge. I'll be right back..." She bolted like thunder, and the trail of her purple leavings faded as fast as they formed.
"She can't help, aunt. No one can." Coming here was pointless in the end, and Lily had less hope for Linka's safety now. Her mind never went off from her. Maybe she might have been killed. Maybe they were chasing ghosts instead. This was all so rotten.
He didn't crank up higher than seventy this time. It was more of a calm ride this time, but that didn't suggest it was a peaceful one. The image of a disabled Luan was dreading to still keep in mind. She wondered if that couldn't have happened if only she stayed. And then there was what Lynn said; Luan now needs all the help she could get, while Lynn was out putting food on the tables in the new world. She was finished in raising the rebellious teen that became of a parent-less Lucky. Her purpose was fulfilled, and now, nothing awaited her.
"I'm heading back, you do realize that, right?"
"Yeah, I think its best we do."
Hours Later
"SHIT!"
The car took a sudden brake appliy force, making Lily tip forward, hitting her head on the glove compartment. This was a nice surprising wake up call for her. She slapped him, yelling out in pain. "What the hell is your problem?!"
His mouth was open in surprise. He pointed in front of him, and Lily was now seeing what Lucky was shocked with. Lyra waved at them both, with her other arm on Linka's shoulder. Linka had her shotgun still with her, with the face of death which replaced her old and innocent one.
"No... Way." Lucky finally set his whip to park.
"Oh my god, Lyra found her!" Lily could not believe her eyes. She cupped her face, laughing with tears of joy.
"Too rights, mate. I went all around, and such. I could use a drink..." Lyra was truly out of breath. She fell on her ass, laughing. "Did we win? I think we won."
Lucky honked the horn. "If you're gonna ride, get off the damn floor, sis!"
"I thought we were cousins."
"Lily, have you been well? Both of you?"
She nodded with content. "I grew worried about you. I thought- I thought-"
"I can't die, yet. I won't die on you. Have you come into contact with Lynn?"
"We're just coming back from their place, actually."
Linka took a look around. A deserted road, somewhere in the middle of nowhere. "We need to go back, right the fuck now."
"What, why? What's going on? I thought they made it clear they didn't want to help."
"Lucky, take us back."
Lyra dozed off in the backseat, much to Lucky's irritation. "Go back why? We're on our own. They can't help us. Have you seen Luan's legs?"
"What about her legs? Whatever, I gotta go back, and you'll take me." She loaded her shotgun.
"Linka? What are you doing?"
"Whatever it takes..."
"Okay, wait, stop. Stop right the fuck there. We'll go. Just drop-" Lucky shook at the blast of the gun. Linka was clearly playing no such games. "Get in! Let's go!"
A full turn was made. Linka kept her cold blue eyes on both of them.
"So, um, Linka... Where have you been?"
"I was locked away for more than enough time."
"Was it them? Did they catch you?"
Linka remained hush, not caring to answer. She was angry that Lynn did this, and was on her way to extract something like vengeance. Nothing was going to stop her. Nothing.
"I'm so glad you're okay..."
Linka turned to the sleeping Lyra. "Am I really?" She finally set down her empty shotgun down on her feet. "Are we really?"
"You know what I mean."
"Just drive. Its imperative we get there as soon as we can."
"I don't get it. What's so important there that you need so badly?"
Later
"Lynn."
The camaro pulled up on the driveway, and Linka quickly stepped out. "You guys wait here." Lucky turned to Lily.
"You know, Lynn never said what Luan said. It feels like she was hiding something. And Luan looked eager to not look at you when she told us. You don't think she lied to us, do you?"
"What? Why would-" Two and two were then placed, and both of them jumped into action. "Darn it, Linka!"
"That's why they lied, wasn't it?" Lucky kicked the door open, arriving on time to see Luan dragginh herself to her flipped wheelchair. Linka was holding a knife, screaming for Lynn.
"WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?!
Lynn punched her twelve times before Linka felt the first punch. She flew into the staircase, groaning. "You're dead!"
"Which one of you idiots released her?!"
"Lyra did", confessed Lily.
"Great, that's just what I need. Help Luan, I've got this!" Lynn spun around Linka, forming a tiny whirlpool of air. Linka floated up, hopelessly trying to grab at anything. Lynn stopped, and punched her as she fell back down.
"You give up, right now. Can't beat me."
"Or what? You gonna kill me, too?" Linka challenged Lynn.
Lily and Lucky helped Luan back on her wheelchair. "Are you okay?"
"I just want this all to end..."
The three now spectated them.
"I'm not going to kill you, Linka. I did all of us a favor putting you away. You're not well!"
"I am what I need to be!" She was punched back down, making a hard thud to the wall. At this point, Lyra made her way into the scene.
"So, what'd I miss?"
Lynn dragged the psychotic Linka outside, throwing her on the lawn. "Damn it, Lyra. I told you no unnecessary actions! Take her back!"
Lily now understood it, and Lynn's choice to lock Linka away was justified. Lucky saw it too, but didn't want to make it clear. "I guess we'll be going now. Nice seeing you..."
"Lynn, I'm sorry-"
"No, just leave. Don't apologize, just go." Lynn wasn't even facing them. Both her and Luan were only looking down, more than tired of the fighting that stuck to everyone like glue.
Linka was on her back, sulking. Lyra was admiring the camaro, being awed completely. "This is a nice ride, bro!"
"Just take Linka back, will you? And don't touch my car."
Across the street, Lupa was watching them. She gripped on the RPG, setting it on the window pane. She aimed at the nice car, and fired. Lucky was the first to hear the sound, and quickly made a leap onto Lily, landing on her. Linka rolled on her stomach, shielding herself.
Lyra caught the big one, and she flew right over Linka, taking multiple injuries and glass shards to her body. Burn marks spawned around, and her body was going into shock. Lucky moved himself off of her. Lynn looked to the burning car. "What the hell happened?!"
One: Black is the New Orange
Lucky helped Lily up, still freaking out about his wrecked camaro. "Fuck, my fucking ride!"
"Jeez, we'll get another one!"
"Linka, what the fuck have you done?!" Lynn placed a foot on her back mercilessly.
"No, wait! It came from that house! Someone blasted my fuckin' ride, man!" Lucky pointed to the house.
Lily saw Lyra squirming in agony. "Oh, god!"
Lynn disappeared to the other end, and returned with the empty RPG. "No one's in there. Stay close to me."
Lupa had the MP9 set on Lyra, from the window right above them. "You're looking in the wrong place, rapid." Lupa released her clip. Lyra was the one to fall here. Lynn moved Linka to cover back in the porch. "It's no use running, I'll kill you all!"
Luan was startled by the close gunfire. She rolled herself back, trying not to make a sound. Lynn, Lily and Lucky circled around her. "Here, Lily. Take this." Lynn handed her the knife Linka dropped.
"Wh-What? I can't-"
"You can. Lucky?"
The rebellious teen revealed his handgun. "She's not getting near us."
Lupa teleported right behind Luan, aiming the machine gun at Lucky. "You're quite wrong, of course."
Luan let out a terrified scream. Lupa fired onto Lucky, but Lynn pushed him out of the way. She threw Lupa's auto out the window, and pinned her by the neck. "What the hell are you doing?!"
Her pupils were gone, and her face was dark, meaning-
"I work for the enemy now." Lupa stuck a red dampener on her, distracting Lynn long enough for a nice headbutt. "Powers are temporarily gone, even if you take it off. New model." She revealed a second gun, a pistol this time, tucked from behind.
"You were supposed to be on our side! Why did you leave?!"
Lupa shot her in the shoulder. "My sisters are dead, what was I do to? YOU LED THEM TO DIE!"
"They killed Liby and Lacy. Not us, Lupa!" Lynn held her shoulder wound, applying the needed pressure. Lucky was unable to fire. His marksmanship wasn't accurate, and Luan being used as Lupa's cover wasn't going to help.
"Shit! No clear shot!"
"And there won't be!" Lupa placed the gun on Luan's head. "Drop it, kiddo."
"I... I don't wanna die!" Luan squealed.
"You're paralyzed, jokes. You really can't call this living. I'm going to do you this favor, all of you."
Linka jumped through the window, making Lupa fire at her. She took several bullets, but Linka still went for her directly. Luan's wheelchair was kicked toward Lynn, and Lucky moved forward.
"Linka, get out of the way!"
Linka crushed Lupa's gun, and used the magazine as her melee weapon. Lupa used her powers to break it from his grip, and turned it on them.
"Linka, kill her!" Lucky yelled
Lynn protested. "No, Linka!"
Linka looked upon the floating gun, and grabbed Lupa's hand, breaking it on her knees. Lupa screamed in pain. Linka wasn't done; she pulled her by the hair, and sent her down to the floor. She stomped on Lupa's shoulder of her other good arm left. "I'm the strongest one here."
Linka tore off Lupa's good arm. Lily and Luan looked away from the gory scene.
"Linka, no! We won! There's no need for-" Lynn had no effect on her. Linka crushed Lupa's head with her own foot.
"Fuck, this is too sick for my taste..." Lucky placed his gun away.
Linka searched the corpse, already hoarding what remained of Lupa's tricks and toys. Lynn was disgusted once more by Linka's secondhand actions.
"Well, you're fucking welcome, Luna."
"We don't need to-"
"YES WE DO! YES. WE. DO. YOU WERE ON HIS SIDE. WHAT CHANGED?!"
"He kept wanting more... He was blinded by rage and hatred, like you are now. It took me a long time to see Luna was right..."
"I thought you wanted to win, Lynn. Not lose. You've become the loser here, and we won't win if we don't act."
"That's how we won't lose, Linka. Try to see reason."
"It's too late for that, Lynn. Far too late." Linka was done here, and hurried out the door. "Hey, where are you going? You're gonna get us all killed!"
"Head back to my place then. You'll be safe far from here."
Lily ran up to her. "Wait, no. Don't leave. We need to..." Lily held her hand out to the dead Lyra's death place.
"Funeral? Not another one-"
"Please, it'll be fast. She was one of us."
"And so was Lupa. We bury her too", Lynn suggested.
"No, she tried to kill us all. We're not burying-"
"She's still your sister, and the last piece of Lucy we had left. We bury them, end of story."
Both bodies were wrapped in white covers that Lynn acquired in a run to wherever she got them from. The holes were dug, and there was less space now. There had already been nine graves here. The last words had been skipped over after Luna's funeral. Memories were too painful to be recalled and talked about. There was no need for anymore of it. The world truly was insane.
The two bodies filled the empty graves, and all of them huddled around, watching Lynn put the dirt back where it belonged. Out of all the graves, only one had an object over it. Linka's stuffed rabbit was on Lincoln's grave. Lily laid down on it, and began to talk to him.
"Hey, big brother. We lost Lyra today, and they turned Lupa. Jeez, I'm- I'm scared. I really wish you were here. Linka is losing it. I know they hated how you did things, but you saved us- Saved me, and..." She grabbed Bun-Bun, using him to help her fight back her emotions. "They took you away from me. This isn't fair."
Lynn was the only one to see Lily down again. She knew that this sngel of a sister was one who had not earned or deserved this. "Lily, come on."
Linka and Lucky were readying up. Luan rolled her way to them. "Guys, no. You can't do this."
"They sent Lupa here, ready to kill you. I think the warnings are over. We're striking now, and not you nor Lynn can stop us."
"Like hell we can't!" Lynn blocked the door. "They realize its you, they kill us. That means Lily, too. We're not dying for your fuckups."
"That's why we're going to dress like rebels. Lynn, there's five dead rebels at the old movie theater. I'm not that dumb or heartless. Go fetch."
Linka smiled for the win, as Lynn had already gone out for their disguises.
"This was your plan all along?" Luan was still puzzled.
"I didn't know if all of you would agree for this suicide run, but just in case-" A pile of dirty clothes dropped on both Linka and Lucky's feet. "There you are, Linka. Go, never come back."
The two dressed up for war, and the girls looked away from Lucky, who had a nice, strong body.
"I guess that also means I can't either," Lucky laughed. "We'll probably need a lift-"
"I have that covered, Lucky. Let's go." Linka found the machine gun Lynn tossed from Lupa's hands. She checked the mag. "Half empty, but good enough."
"I guess this is goodbye..." Lily gave Lucky a big hug. "Be careful, okay?"
"I'll try not to die", he told her in comfort. Linka and Lynn exchanged one final stare before the two walked off into the street, off to their mission.
Zero: The Last One Standing
January 10th, 2039
The two made their way to a rebel camp set up on the Arlington National Cemetery, based outside what was once the Pentagon, now the base of the Prime Federation. They took an old biker motorcycle there, ready to infiltrate the fully secured base. They stopped upon seeing the tents get in range. The gunfire echoed through the night. Linka knew this place was a never-ending war zone.
"Why are we stopping?" Lucky asked, removing his helmet. Linka got off and headed to the base.
"They'll shoot us if we ride through. I've come here a few times before, aiding them. I've never exposed myself as a Loud though."
"Didn't you kill a few of the rebels?"
"Yeah, but they probably would have died. Why not go sooner? And it's for a good cause, come on."
She led him to the main tent there. There, an elderly man with a husky build and a full white beard, stood on his feet. "LK, welcome back." He gave her a salute, which she returned.
"Major Flip, any progress?"
"No, we've been unsuccessful in gaining ground within the Fed base. We're not giving up, however. Numbers keep dropping, we're losing too many."
Linka revealed ten black devices from her raggedy black pants. "Say no more, we have an advantage."
"What are these?" He picked one up. "It looks like a mush of tic-tacs."
"These are our way in. They're teleporters. We need ten of your men, and a diversion."
"LK..."
Lucky pulled at his dusty leather jacket. Linka knew what she was going to do, but was there a plan to stay alive?
"You've got it." Flip switched to his walkie talkie. "Attention, all men..." He tossed the radio to Linka, who smiled for the first time in a long while.
"This is LK, requesting all grenade launchers and rockets to the front lines. Cease fire, I repeat, cease fire." She let go of the speaker button.
"What's your plan?" Lucky took to her side, not following the strategy.
"You'll see", she answered, taking back the teleportation devices back.
"Good luck on the battlefield, LK."
"I'll do my best, Major." She saluted him once more before heading further to the front lines.
A maze of trenches have been established past the tents. The two saw the horrors of the war; there were bodies around. Men and women were yelling about. Misplaced features on some of them. There were about three with missing limbs. Linka saw a kid, no older than she was when she came into the world. The kid was dirty, so much that his race couldn't be identified. The lifeless eyes he looked at her with told Linka what she didn't need to see anymore.
"Damn..." Lucky whimpered. "We're going inside of there?"
A bunch of men carrying rockets were lined up at the end line of this labyrinth. "It's LK, everyone! She's here to help. What do you need all this firepower for?" Sergeant Ryan Snyder was a decorated veteran, and devoted the rest of his years to fight back the Prime Federation.
Linka looked to the base. "Diversion. I need eight of you for an infil unit. We're all going to break in tonight. Pack heavy MGs right now if you haven't."
"Only eight? We need our whole army in there."
Linka withdrew the devices. "Here, take one and give one each to your men. I need everyone to fire on the top floor, and we'll need suppressing fire as we teleport."
"You're taking me with you?" Lucky looked at the base with binoculars lying on the ground. "Couldn't I stay here?"
"We're all going, okay? We're all going in there. Snyder, we can possibly win tonight. Don't you wanna change history?"
Snyder looked to his men. "Form on me!"
Linka then explained her entire plan. The plan was to blow a hole to the wall, so that Lisa would not see that her own technology was involved. If that was deduced, it would guarantee the lives for the others.
"Smart, Linka."
"And we've better hurry. They'll know something's up."
She held the small object firmly in her hand. "Before we go, anything you feel like you need to get off of your chest? Say it now or likely take it to the grave."
"I think aunt Lily is hot..." he coughed up. Linka replied with a serious look. "Please don't-"
"You should've fucked her. You don't have a lot of options. Paige wouldn't be able to nail you, she's almost never off-duty."
"But that's incest-"
"The world fell apart, and you worry about that? You do know Luan and Lincoln had sex at one point, right? Nothing matters."
Snyder and his men took aim.
"Jesus, kid... Stop, don't blow it yet!" Linka hollered.
"LK, there a problem?" Snyder gave them the signal to lower the rockets.
She grabbed Lucky's hand. "There's something I have to blow. I'll be back in ten, just keep firing rounds at the place." She pulled Lucky away, leading him into an empty tent.
"I figured you would have in the time I went missing, you baby. Looks like I'm gonna be the one to fuck you. It'll be my first time, too. Why not, right?" Final wish, fulfilled.
He stuttered, not knowing how to respond. He surely lived up to his name.
Minutes Later
Linka had a bit of a hard time walking after that, but she brushed it off fairly quickly. "Damn it... Snyder! Do it! Fire on the same spot!"
All rockets were fired, striking the middle of the high floor. A sizeable hole was made, and Linka quickly opened her portal. "Get the MGs ready!" She jumped in, as the firefight broke out. Lucky and the others followed her, entering through their own portals.
Linka found herself on the hall of the enemy base. She waved at them, visible from the entrance they made. Lucky and the other eight rebels appeared afterwards. "Work your way down! Find the leaders!"
Bullet shells, many bodies and grenades went off on the floors down. Only four of them remained upon reaching the main floor. Lucky had taken three shots to his shoulder, but carried on.
"No, something's wrong! They should be here! Isn't this their-" An automated gun turret popped from the floor, taking Snyder and his last man, ripping through them like stuffed animals. Linka pushed Lucky to cover on the corner and took cover in the other one.
"Downstairs! They must also have a secret underground level!" Linka battled the turret, blindly firing off her huge gun.
Lucky waved his hand out. The turret focused on him, with a delay of a few seconds. "It moves slowly! Fire on it!"
Linka siezed her opportunity, finally destroying the damn thing. "Damn it!"
Muffled gunfire rang out from the outer perimeters. "We're boxed in..."
"Where the hell would this entrance be?" He looked to the elevator. "I've got it!"
Linka found it funny the elevators weren't used, maybe because- "No, Lucky, the elevators are-"
It opened, and a bomb inside claimed the teenager by surprise. The middle of the floor had begun to change, shifting away. The tiles opened, revealing a staircase hidden. Out came Lisa Loud, and several of her men. She grew nervous, praying she wouldn't be identified. And that meant she couldn't die here.
"You there! You have caused me much grief and annoyance. Men, kill her." They lined up, and Linka was sure Lisa was heading back down. She fired away as they aimed at her. She dropped half of them, but that came hand-in-hand, with her taking bullets. These weren't regular bullets, for she wasn't phased by them. No, this was the Anti-Pheno bullets.
She fell on one knee, struggling to maintain her balance. Linka fired randomly, while trying to stand again. "Come on! Come on!" She took two more down, three remained. Linka kept firing until she was out. By then, she took one to her ribs, and decided it was time to go. Linka played her trump card; the actual last teleporter. Lucky for her, she hadn't dropped any blood, and Lisa would disregard Lucky as a rebel, and the body would be unquestioned.
She jumped through, and did so before anyone could see, and away from camera view.
She landed on the roof of the garage, crashing through it. She hit her skull on the floor, bleeding out in various places.
Lynn heard the crash, and appeared right before her. "Linka?"
"Don't- Don't you even..." She drooled blood, turning to the house. "Luhh... No, not now..." She did her best to try and crawl. Linka was leaving a trail of smeared blood from her impact. "Lihh-leee-"
"Lily's asleep... If you're gonna die, it'd be best if she didn't see you."
"Wha- No, you can't do this- Lily is-"
"She's given up on you. While you were gone, I convinced her I was right. She doesn't want to see you. You'll die and I'll be the one to know..."
"You'll have to bury me here!"
"No, I'll phase your body through the dirt, but you won't have an official grave."
"LYNN!" She stood up and only made it before the porch, where she fell, too weak to keep going. "But- I didn't- I covered my-"
"It doesn't matter anymore. We win, they win. Its over."
Linka was about to scream, but Lynn grabbed onto her, vibrating her through the dirt. "Goodbye, then..."
February 8th, 2039 - Three Days Before Lynn Goes Back
Lily was overlooking the tiny cemetery of her late family members along with Luan and Lynn. "Do you think they're all at peace?"
"They've gotta be. Somewhere far, far away, up in the clouds, they're having a barbecue. They're all laughing, smiling, and happy to be there. Lupa, Lyra, Lucky and Linka have arrived late. I bet Lucky's happy to see his mother again. Lupa is reunited with her sisters. One day, the three of us will meet up one day. And we'll all be happy again."
Lily held each of their hands. "I love you, guys."
She broke away, leaving them alone.
"What a speech there, Lynn. I don't think those were the words I would've used."
"I'm not good on this mush thing. Anyways, I think that was okay. I'm going scave-"
A shot rang out from the basement. "Oh, my god! "
"Damn it, not her! Anything but her!" Lynn arrived at the basement a tad too late. "Oh, no, Lily. Why you?"
Lily, however, died with a final smile, eyes going up. Lynn closed her eyelids, going silent. It was now down to her and Luan. But she was the last one able to fight. The last one standing. And she had one card to play; the timeline card.
AN: Well, how about that? Despite this being the longest chapter in this fic, it was done in total, four hours, but spread throughout three days. What speed, if I do say so myself. Welp, that's the end of this verse, loud. Time to return to where we left off. Baha, suffer from the wait! Thursday.